MLS LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy Promote Tom Payne to President of Business Operations

Published on November 5, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, November 5, 2008) - Tom Payne has been promoted to President of Business Operations of the LA Galaxy, it was announced today by Timothy J. Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG. Payne will oversee all of the Galaxy's Business Operations, including corporate partnerships, ticket sales, marketing, programming, communications, broadcasting, operations and community development. Payne, who has been with the organization for six seasons, will report directly to Leiweke.

"From the start, there was no doubt that Tom was the ideal person to take on this new position within the Galaxy," said Leiweke. "With his vast knowledge of soccer and MLS, Tom has the respect of the staff, the players and the fans and will now play an even bigger role in helping this club to grow and become more successful. Despite our struggles on the field, Tom has done an outstanding job on the business side and together with Bruce, we are confident that with their leadership, next year will be a positive one for us."

Payne, 44, carries with him an extensive background in the sports and entertainment industry. He has worked for the Galaxy since 2003 and previously served as the club's Assistant General Manager (2006-08) and Vice President of Programming and Business Development (2003-05). He was instrumental in opening a number of additional revenue streams for the club, including negotiating international exhibitions against teams such as Yokohama F. Marinos, the Korean National Team, Real Madrid and Chelsea F.C. Payne has also been instrumental in helping the Galaxy lead MLS in attendance in all six of his years with the club, including an MLS-best average of 26,009 fans per game in 2008, which is the second highest single season average attendance in MLS history.

In 2007, Payne was instrumental in organizing the Galaxy's many top international matches, which included the World Series of Football, featuring the Galaxy and Chelsea, as well as Mexican club Tigres UANL and Korean K-League side Suwon Samsung Bluewings at The Home Depot Center, while also arranging and organizing the club's successful postseason tour, which included record breaking matches in Vancouver, Australia, and New Zealand. He also negotiated and organized the Galaxy's Asia Tour 2008, which included matches in Seoul, Korea, Shanghai, China and Hong Kong during the 2008 preseason. A Peekskill, N.Y. native, Payne has also confirmed the club to return to the Oceania region during the 2008 postseason for a match against an Oceania All Star Invitational Team in Auckland, New Zealand on December 6.

Before joining the Galaxy, Payne served as the Sales Manager for Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando from 1998-2003. At Disney, Payne helped create Disney's Soccer Showcase, which is, according to Soccer America, the top-ranked youth/college soccer showcase in the country for top college bound prospects. Payne was instrumental in introducing college coaches to the event, and possesses extensive knowledge of the collegiate and youth soccer system and landscape in the U.S.

Payne began his involvement in Major League Soccer in 1998, serving as a consultant for the league and managing all ticket sales, marketing and sponsorship activities for the 1998 MLS All-Star Game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. A crowd of 34,416 attended this game, making it the second highest attended All-Star Game in league history. Payne also worked as a consultant for MLS, helping to bring all 12 of the league's teams together in Orlando for spring training in 1998.

For more information about the Galaxy, please call 1-877-3-GALAXY or visit the club's official website at www.lagalaxy.com.

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